Meet the pilots who fly vintage

Updated 9:24 AM ET, Mon July 14, 2014

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

The Great War Display at Farnborough – This year the Farnborough Airshow celebrates 100 years of aviation with a startling collection of aircraft on display. Alongside the 1500 exhibitors, the event will also honor the centenary of World War I with aircraft from that era, including Britain's Sopwith Triplane (pictured).

Hide Caption

1 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

Sopwith Triplane took flight in 1916 – The Great War Display, a homage to the historical importance of fighter aircraft, will showcase British and German warplane models that performed indisputable feats during World War I. The Sopwith Triplane (pictured) is a replica of the first Triplane prototype, a British single seat fighter plane which took flight in the summer of 1916 and is one of only 150 Triplanes built. The aircraft was designed with the widest field of vision and maximum maneuverability.

Hide Caption

2 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

WW1 through flight – Richard Piper, a member of The Great War Display team, is looking forward to the planes returning to their home turf: "This event is really important to us as some of the aircraft was originally built in Farnborough -- the airshow is all about what we do."

Hide Caption

3 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

Germany's Mean Fighting Machine – Sporting two forward firing machine guns within its black and white exterior, the German Fokker Dr1 is highly intimidating, highly impressive and not for the fainthearted.

Hide Caption

4 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

Fokker Dr1 helped secure highest kill rate – A direct copy of the Sopwith, the German Aces took a liking to the Fokker Dr1 Triplane model, namely Manfred von Richthofen - the legendary German fighter pilot who famously secured the highest kill rate of any aviator in World War I.

Hide Caption

5 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

A nations favorite war-time plane – Only 320 Fokker Dr1s were ever built, however it's still Germany's most famous plane. Piper, pictured alongside the The Great War Display team, is made up of airline pilots, ex RAF pilots, test pilots and aviation instructors. In fact, most of the nine planes on show were built by current and former team members, says Piper.

Hide Caption

6 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

The pioneering Junker CL1 – Produced by Junkers, Germany's most reputable aircraft manufacturer, the CL1 followed the monoplane format with its fixed wing construction.

Hide Caption

7 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

Evolution through experimental construction – The Idaflieg, Germany's 'gatekeeper' for military aviation, permitted the Junker CL1 to take the air despite its novel construction.

Hide Caption

8 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

The 2-seater took flight in 1917 – First taking flight in 1917, the Junker was equipped as a two seat ground attack plane, with 47 made during the Armistice.

Hide Caption

9 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

'Bower's Fly Babies' – Both models on show are home built open-cockpit monoplanes otherwise known as 'Bower's Fly-Babies, with one of the CL1s now owned by Piper.

Hide Caption

10 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

The Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a – Renowned for its high maneuverability and performance level, The Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a was known to gather considerable speed during air dives with its 8.11 meter wingspan.

Hide Caption

11 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

A well armed flight – The SE5a is armed with one forward firing machine gun, 1 Lewis gun and has the ability to hold four 18kg aerial bombs.

Hide Caption

12 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

The most stable plane ever made – The Royal Aircraft Factory BE2c was Britain's first ever military aeroplane. Fashioned at Farnborough in the Royal Aircraft Factory in 1912, the legendary machine happily returns to its home turf this July.

Hide Caption

13 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

First aircraft to receive flight approval – The BE2c was the very first plane to receive flight approval, certified as such in March 1912. Incredibly, a radiator was mounted in the pilots line of vision, despite being powered by a water cooled engine. Yet the Triplane is the hardest to fly, with a view that's like "looking through a Venetian blind at an angle," says Piper. "You have to land into the wind otherwise they will "ground loop" - a bit like a race car spinning!"

Hide Caption

14 of 15

Meet the pilots who fly vintage15 photos

Experienced team make aircraft prototypes – Passionate about unveiling the past to a wider and younger audience, Piper says the team is keen to to educate people on World War I as well as aircraft construction: "We're excited to introduce a new generation to this vital part of history." You can catch these impressive World War I aircraft on display from 18-20 July at the Farnborough Airshow in Hampshire, England.